Yellow Alert for Heavy Rain Issued for Western Canary Islands
The Canary Islands of La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro are under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall this Friday, with potential for localized downpours and thunderstorms as an Atlantic front moves across the region.
Heads up, residents of La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro! The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a yellow alert for these islands this Friday, October 17th.
Starting at midnight and lasting until 5 PM, expect some heavy downpours. In some spots, we could see over 15 liters of rain per square meter in just one hour, and up to 60 liters over a 12-hour period.
This wet weather is due to an Atlantic front moving across the western part of the islands, bringing widespread showers and possible thunderstorms Friday morning. A mix of cold and warm, humid air is creating this unstable weather system that will affect all the islands in the coming days. Expect lots of clouds, showers of varying intensity, and winds from the southwest, especially on the higher islands.
The rain is expected to spread across the islands from Thursday through the weekend, hitting the western islands the hardest. La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro are already under the AEMET alert, so residents should pay attention to any announcements from local authorities, like school closures or road closures due to the rain.
These three islands will feel the change first. The front will then move across the Canary Islands, eventually reaching Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, where the rain will likely be lighter and less frequent. Northern Tenerife could see some rain on Saturday afternoon.
Temperatures aren't expected to change much, although the eastern islands might see a slight dip in the minimum temperatures. In La Gomera, expect temperatures between 28ºC and 31ºC; in La Palma, between 25ºC and 29ºC; and in El Hierro, between 26ºC and 31ºC.
It's important to know what to do in these situations. The police, Civil Protection, and 112 emergency services are urging everyone to stay calm and be cautious if heavy rain arrives. It's also crucial to follow the advice of the authorities.
Stay informed! Official sources like AEMET, the DGT (traffic authority), and 112 Canarias will be providing updates on the weather throughout the day. A yellow alert means there's a moderate risk, so don't underestimate it. Intense rainfall can cause problems quickly.
According to weather experts, this weather pattern signals the start of autumn in the Canary Islands, bringing cooler and wetter conditions that could last for the next few days. AEMET will continue to update warnings as the weather front moves through, and they might issue new alerts for rain or storms.